2012 Toyota RAV4 EV

The second electric RAV4 gets a Tesla motor and battery—and a huge price tag.

Toyota has revealed its second all-electric RAV4 SUV, and it is the result of a partnership between the Japanese automaker and Tesla Motors. The original electrified RAV4 was introduced in California in 1997 for fleets, and a small number eventually made their way to customers in 2003. When we were given a look at this iteration of Toyota’s electric SUV at the 2010 L.A. auto show, the company wasn’t sharing final technical specs or detailed information of any kind. At that time, the vehicle was only just entering its testing phase; now that the production model is here, so are the specs.

Quick Electric

As its name implies, the RAV4 EV is pretty much a normal RAV4 but with an electric powertrain. Tesla contributed all of the RAV4’s electric bits, including the motor and lithium-ion battery pack; Toyota provided the RAV4 wrapper. The motor is good for 154 hp and max torque of 273 lb-ft; the output is routed through a single-speed transmission to the RAV4’s front wheels. There are two driving modes, Normal and Sport. Even though the idea of sport anything on an electric SUV may sound silly, the Sport mode provides access to full torque, which makes a tangible difference in the crossover’s performance. (Just 218 lb-ft of torque is available in Normal mode.) In Sport, the claimed 0-to-60-mph time drops from 8.6 seconds to 7.0, and top speed climbs to 100 mph from 85. The given acceleration estimates for the electric RAV4 in either driving mode fall between our test results for the pokey four-cylinder RAV4 and the 269-hp V-6 model. As for weight, the EV carries an additional 400 pounds over a 4WD V-6 model, which puts it over 4000 pounds.

A 42-kWh lithium-ion battery provides the juice to the motor; given the vehicle’s size, it isn’t surprising that its energy capacity tops that of smaller mainstream EVs, including the Ford Focus Electric, Nissan Leaf, and Honda Fit EV. The battery can be charged via one of two available chargers. An onboard 120-volt charger is standard, but there is also an optional 240-volt charger. Toyota claims it will take the 240-volt hookup six hours to top off the battery pack; no estimated charge times were provided for the 120-volt system, but figure on it taking a lot longer. With a fully charged battery, Toyota says the RAV4 EV can muster 100 miles of driving range—incidentally, this is the same distance the company claimed for the original electric RAV4.

Smooth Operator

Overall range is helped by aerodynamically minded changes made to the RAV4’s body. A unique front bumper, grille, side mirrors, rear spoiler, and underbody cladding result in a claimed 0.30 coefficient of drag, a figure Toyota says is tops among SUVs. In addition to the smoothed-over bits, the RAV4 EV also gets LED daytime running lights and blue-colored badges front and rear. Inside, the interior is nearly identical to that of the gas-powered RAV4. None of the EV-specific parts, such as the battery, intrude on interior space, so the electric RAV4 has the same 73-cubic-foot cargo capacity as its conventional siblings. Toyota fitted the EV with a dashboard-mounted eight-inch touch screen that displays battery and electric-drive information, and also includes controls for navigation functions and the brand’s Entune connectivity platform.

Like other electric cars, the RAV4 EV carries a hefty price premium relative to similarly sized gas-powered equivalents, including the normal RAV4. When the electric RAV4 goes on sale late this summer, it will carry a $50,610 price tag before any tax credits are applied. Toyota representatives tell us the company is confident the RAV4 EV will qualify for the $7500 federal credit for EVs, but even still, the SUV’s price is much, much higher than those of the Ford Focus Electric, Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, and lease-only Honda Fit EV.

Furthermore, if you don’t live in Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, or San Diego, you’re out of luck: At launch Toyota will only sell its electric SUV in those four California markets. Toyota currently doesn’t have a plan to expand availability beyond the initial areas, but we’re told the company could rethink the situation if sales take off. Despite the relatively limited geographic scope, Toyota plans to sell roughly 2600 RAV4 EVs over the next three years. If you must have an electric car, but you also need a decent amount of cargo room and a higher seating position, the RAV4 EV is pretty much the only game in town—some towns, anyway.

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